England's brave new world stalled at Wembley.

The hype and excitement generated during a long, hot summer in which the country was seduced into falling back in love with the national team was replaced by the shiver of an ice-cold reality check.

More than 81,000 turned up for England's first-ever Nations League tie.

But after Marcus Rashford's early strike had given the fans hope that Gareth Southgate can build on England's first appearance in a World Cup semi-final for 28 years, that optimism was punctured by goals from Saul Niguez and Rodrigo.

England's Marcus Rashford opens the scoring

If it was a chastening evening for England, it was a painful one for Luke Shaw.

The Manchester United left-back, recalled by Southgate after an impressive start to the season, set up Rashford's 11-minute opener before making a mistake in the build-up to Niguez's quick-fire riposte.

And two minutes into the second half, Shaw was knocked out cold by a sickening collision with Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal.

It took six worrying minutes of treatment before England's medical staff felt safe enough to take Shaw off on a stretcher.

Spain's Saul Niguez scores their first goal

New Spain boss Luis Enrique is supposed to be rebuilding after ruinous summer in Russia and the retirement of Andreas Iniesta, Gerard Pique and David Silva.

But both Sergio Ramos and Sergio Busquets have won the World Cup and European Championship.

Others, like Isco, Nacho Carvajal, Thiago Alcantara, Niguez and David De Gea, are serial winners at club level.

Southgate's most decorated players last night? Premier League winners Harry Maguire and John Stones.

How it showed.

While the slick-passing Spaniards dominated possession, an England team that included debutant Joe Gomez and the returning Shaw had to decide carefully when to attack.

Rodrigo Moreno of Spain celebrates after scoring his team's second goal

If they had made the most of what they did create then they could have taken a share of the spoils.

In the 10 minute, England took the lead with a goal that would have even made Pep Guardiola purr.

Stones, Gomez and Kieran Trippier worked their way out of a tight spot close to their own corner flag.

And after Jordan Henderson had burst through Niguez's tackle, Kane switched play with a raking pass that invited Shaw to gallop forward.

The full-back then guided a stunning low cross into the path of Rashford as he ghosted in behind Ramos to produce a finish that gave De Gea no chance.

Luke Shaw of England goes down injured

The watching Jose Mourinho would have approved.

It took Spain just 90 seconds to land a blow to restore parity.

This time, Shaw was at fault, jumping into a a rash challenge on Carvajal, before Rodrigo escaped to pull a low cross back into the heart of England's box for Niguez to ram a low finish beyond Jordan Pickford.

Spain, with Ramos relishing the grief he was being given by the Wembley fans, passed and probed.

But England still carried a threat.

And Kane thought he was about to restore his side's lead in the 23 minute when Spain's offside trap broke down and Maguire headed Trippier's free-kick invitingly into his path 10 yards out.

England's Marcus Rashford appears dejected during the defeat to Spain

The England skipper was just cocking the trigger of his right boot when Carvajal got back to nudge the ball to safety in the nick of time.

Southgate would have been frustrated when the visitors exposed another lapse in concentration to go ahead in the 32 minute.

Kane failed to track Rodrigo when Alcantara sent a low free-kick in from the left and Gomez could not react quickly enough to prevent the Valencia forward to steal in at the near post to score.

England should have been level immediately when a short corner was worked back to Jesse Lingard and his cross seemed perfect for Rashford as he leapt six yards from goal.

England's Harry Kane complains against the 4th official after Danny Welbeck's goal was disallowed

But the England striker went for power instead of precision and David De Gea was able to pull off the kind of save that has become his trademark at Old Trafford when a downward header would have surely given him no hope.

Shaw's evening was ended two minutes into the second half when he ran blindly into the shoulder of Carvajal and seemed to lose consciousness before he hit the turf with a crash.

He did appear to come round on the stretcher and was given gas and air to ease the pain.

A contest brimming with excitement and attacking intent lost it's edge after Shaw departed.

England's Danny Welbeck clashes with Spain's David De Gea in the build up to the disallowed goal

But England should have claimed a share of the spoils 10 minutes from time when Rashford burst clear only to fire his shot too close to De Gea.

England were robbed of an equaliser by referee Danny Makkelle in the fifth minute of the nine minutes added on for Shaw's injury.

De Gea attempted to collect Ramos' sliced clearance only to spill the ball as he came down.

Substitute Danny Welbeck was lurking and turned smartly to guide the ball into the net and was celebrating before the Dutch official decided a foul had been committed.